Leadership Overview
AmTrust Financial has 10 executives leading key functions including strategy, marketing, operations, cyber insurance, underwriting, workers compensation, legal, specialty insurance, and corporate management.
Focused on delivering specialized property and casualty solutions, AmTrust Financial maintains a commitment to providing robust insurance products for small and middle-market businesses through a global distribution network.
Focused on delivering specialized property and casualty solutions, AmTrust Financial maintains a commitment to providing robust insurance products for small and middle-market businesses through a global distribution network.
Leadership Roles at AmTrust Financial
Barry Zyskind - Chairman of the board & Chief Executive Officer
Barry Zyskind, the Chairman of the board & Chief Executive Officer at AmTrust Financial, directs the overarching corporate strategy and long-term vision for the organization. Zyskind oversees the expansion of property and casualty insurance offerings across diverse international markets. By aligning the board objectives with operational execution, the Chairman of the board & Chief Executive Officer ensures the company maintains a competitive edge in the small commercial business segment. Barry Zyskind monitors the performance of all subsidiaries to guarantee consistent underwriting standards and financial stability. This leadership role involves constant evaluation of market risks and opportunities to drive sustainable growth. Through rigorous oversight of the executive team, the Chief Executive Officer fosters a culture of accountability and excellence. Zyskind maintains focus on delivering value to stakeholders while navigating the complexities of the global insurance landscape, ultimately securing the firm's position as a leader in specialty risk and extended warranty solutions.
Christopher Longo - Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Christopher Longo, the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at AmTrust Financial, manages the internal infrastructure and operational efficiency of the organization. Longo oversees the claims handling processes and call center services that support the specialty risk and extended warranty segments. The Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer ensures that all subsidiaries maintain high standards of service delivery for consumer and commercial goods coverage. Christopher Longo drives the integration of technology into daily workflows to streamline the administration of workers compensation and general liability policies. By optimizing operational capacity, the Chief Operating Officer supports the company's ability to scale across North American and international markets. This leadership role involves constant coordination with department heads to resolve bottlenecks and improve service quality. Longo executes strategic improvements that enhance the overall customer experience, ensuring that the firm remains agile and responsive to the evolving demands of the property and casualty insurance industry.
Benny Zviti - President, Anv & Amtrust Cyber
Benny Zviti, the President, Anv & Amtrust Cyber at AmTrust Financial, leads the development and underwriting of specialized cyber insurance products. Zviti architects the risk assessment frameworks necessary to protect businesses against modern digital threats and data breaches. The President, Anv & Amtrust Cyber oversees the expansion of cyber coverage offerings to meet the growing demand from small and middle-market companies. Benny Zviti collaborates with technical teams to ensure that insurance solutions remain relevant in a rapidly changing technological landscape. By focusing on niche risk mitigation, the President drives the growth of the cyber segment within the broader specialty program portfolio. This role involves constant engagement with brokers and clients to tailor coverage to specific industry vulnerabilities. Zviti executes strategies that position the firm as a premier provider of cyber protection, ensuring that the company effectively addresses the complex liability risks associated with the digital economy and modern business operations.
Elissa Pacheco - President & Southeast Region Chief Underwriting Officer
Elissa Pacheco, the President & Southeast Region Chief Underwriting Officer at AmTrust Financial, directs the underwriting discipline and regional strategy for the Southeast territory. Pacheco oversees the risk selection process for workers compensation and commercial property insurance, ensuring adherence to strict profitability targets. The President & Southeast Region Chief Underwriting Officer monitors regional market conditions to adjust pricing and coverage terms for small business clients. Elissa Pacheco executes underwriting guidelines that balance growth with prudent risk management across the Southeast region. By mentoring local underwriting teams, the President ensures consistent application of corporate standards for general liability and commercial auto products. This leadership role involves constant interaction with regional brokers to maintain strong distribution relationships. Pacheco drives the performance of the Southeast portfolio, ensuring that the company captures market share while maintaining the high quality of the overall insurance book through disciplined risk assessment and strategic regional oversight.

Robert Purdy - President, Middle Market Specialty Workers' Compensation
Robert Purdy, the President, Middle Market Specialty Workers' Compensation at AmTrust Financial, manages the specialized workers compensation portfolio for middle-market clients. Purdy architects the underwriting and service strategies required to support complex commercial accounts. The President, Middle Market Specialty Workers' Compensation oversees the development of tailored insurance programs that address the specific needs of larger businesses. Robert Purdy drives the expansion of the specialty program segment by identifying new opportunities in the workers compensation market. By coordinating with claims and loss control teams, the President ensures that clients receive comprehensive support throughout the policy lifecycle. This role involves constant analysis of loss data to refine pricing models and improve the profitability of the middle-market book. Purdy executes initiatives that strengthen the company's reputation for expertise in workers compensation, ensuring that the firm remains a top choice for businesses requiring sophisticated, reliable, and responsive insurance coverage solutions.
Dan Hickey - President, AmTrust Specialty Insurance
Dan Hickey, the President, AmTrust Specialty Insurance at AmTrust Financial, leads the specialty insurance division, focusing on excess and surplus lines programs. Hickey architects the product strategy for niche property and casualty risks, including general liability and specialty commercial coverage. The President, AmTrust Specialty Insurance oversees the distribution of these specialized products through a network of wholesale brokers and agents. Dan Hickey drives the growth of the specialty program segment by identifying underserved markets and developing custom-designed coverages. By collaborating with underwriting teams, the President ensures that the specialty portfolio remains profitable and responsive to unique client needs. This role involves constant engagement with the market to stay ahead of emerging risks and competitive pressures. Hickey executes operational plans that enhance the firm's capability to provide excess and surplus lines solutions, ensuring that the company maintains its status as a leader in the specialty insurance sector.
James Thanasules - President
James Thanasules, the President at AmTrust Financial, directs the strategic initiatives related to the company's core insurance operations and business development. Thanasules oversees the execution of corporate goals across the small commercial business and specialty risk segments. The President monitors the performance of key business units to ensure alignment with the overall mission of providing high-quality property and casualty insurance. James Thanasules drives cross-functional collaboration to improve service delivery and operational efficiency. By analyzing market opportunities, the President identifies areas for expansion and product innovation. This leadership role involves constant interaction with the executive team to refine business processes and enhance the company's market position. Thanasules executes plans that support the firm's commitment to small and middle-market businesses, ensuring that the organization remains focused on delivering value through reliable insurance products and exceptional service across all operational segments.
Adam Karkowsky - President
Adam Karkowsky, the President at AmTrust Financial, manages the financial health and capital allocation strategies for the organization. Karkowsky oversees the reinsurance services and financial planning functions that support the company's property and casualty business. The President drives the development of financial models that assess the viability of new insurance programs and market entries. Adam Karkowsky collaborates with the board to ensure that capital is deployed effectively to support growth in the specialty risk and extended warranty segments. By monitoring financial performance metrics, the President ensures that the firm maintains a strong balance sheet and meets all regulatory capital requirements. This role involves constant evaluation of the company's financial risk profile and the implementation of strategies to optimize profitability. Karkowsky executes financial initiatives that strengthen the firm's market position, ensuring that the company remains well-capitalized and prepared for future opportunities in the global insurance landscape.

Bruce Shuman - Chief Marketing Officer
Bruce Shuman, the Chief Marketing Officer at AmTrust Financial, architects the brand positioning and distribution strategies for the company's extensive insurance portfolio. Shuman manages the outreach to retail and wholesale agents, ensuring the firm effectively communicates the value of commercial package insurance and specialty risk products. The Chief Marketing Officer drives engagement across the broker network to increase market penetration in the small business sector. Bruce Shuman analyzes market trends to refine messaging for niche property and casualty risks, including professional and medical liability coverage. By coordinating with regional sales teams, the Chief Marketing Officer optimizes the distribution funnel to maximize policy uptake. This role requires constant collaboration with product leaders to align marketing campaigns with the specific needs of middle-market clients. Shuman executes data-driven initiatives that enhance brand visibility, ensuring the company remains the preferred partner for agents seeking reliable, customized insurance solutions for diverse commercial clients.
David Saks - Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer
David Saks, the Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer at AmTrust Financial, directs the legal and regulatory affairs for the entire organization. Saks oversees compliance with insurance laws across all jurisdictions where the company operates. The Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer manages the legal risks associated with property and casualty underwriting, including specialty liability and professional indemnity claims. David Saks executes strategies to protect the firm's interests in complex litigation and regulatory inquiries. By providing counsel to the board and executive leadership, the Chief Legal Officer ensures that all business decisions align with legal requirements and corporate governance standards. This role involves constant monitoring of legislative changes that impact the insurance industry. Saks drives the development of internal policies that mitigate risk and support the company's growth objectives, ensuring that the firm maintains a strong legal foundation while navigating the complexities of the global insurance market.

Explore Leadership Teams in Insurance
Ameritas, headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, is a mutual insurance company offering life, dental, and disability insurance, as well as financial services. Founded in 1887, Ameritas serves individuals, families, and businesses across the United States.
Company Leadership LT


TD
PAŞA Sığorta is a leading non-life insurance company in Azerbaijan, offering a wide range of insurance services including automobile, property, travel, and health insurance. Their products cater to both individual and corporate clients, ensuring financial protection against unexpected events. With a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, they provide online application processes and a mobile app for easy management of insurance services. The company is recognized for its financial strength and commitment to delivering reliable insurance solutions.
Company Leadership NI
AO
JI
Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Limited, also known as Sri Lanka Insurance is the largest and strongest composite insurance provider in Sri Lanka. It is the first and only insurance company in Sri Lanka to be assigned a prime AAA- rating for Insurance Financial Strength from the US rating agency Fitch Ratings New York City. The company now manages assets worth over US$1102 Million.
Company Leadership
RA
AJ
MB
PassportCard is an international insurance and insuretech company that provides innovative travel insurance and global health insurance solutions, enabling members to access healthcare services worldwide without traditional claims processes. Its core offering uses a real-time, prepaid card system that allows policyholders to pay medical providers directly at the point of care, streamlining access to treatment without upfront out-of-pocket costs or paperwork. The company operates across many countries and serves both individual and corporate clients. It is part of the broader DavidShield – PassportCard Group, known for combining insurance expertise with technology-driven service delivery.
Company Leadership EK